There is a movie I can recommend, Miracle Man, directed by Carlo Carlei. It was a 2000 movie for TV in Italy, which got only one showing in the USA, which I was able to attend, in Hollywood. The director himself was there to introduce the film, and he had some very interesting things to say about the making of the movie.

It depicts Padre Pio very realistically, as a man of suffering and one who was persecuted by the Church's hierarchy. It could well be the only movie that comes close to doing a good job in his regard.

If you can understand Italian, the original version is best, but if you want English, you ought to go for the Italian with English subtitles version, because it has the full impact of the Italian sound track that is about half of the film's value. I saw the English overdubbed version and it loses a lot of power as the music and sound effects are very compromised.

I've seen the movie too, and can recommend it.It is quite touching at times, and Castellitto's performance is noteworthy (another reason to choose the original over the dubbed version).The screenwriters did not shy away from the diabolical element (which we know prevalent thanks to various testimonies) in Padre Pio's life, too.

The convent of Capuchin Friars at San Giovanni Rotondo offers a wonderful small book about San Padre Pio, Be Reconciled to God. I was recently given Padre Pio: A Man of Hope, written by Renzo Allegri, which I've barely started but I like what I've read.Did you notice Katharina Tangari opens her book with glowing praise of the book For the Record (about St Pio) by Alberto del Fante, and Padre Pio--The Stigmatist by Fr Charles Carty is also referenced at the end? The incredible hospital campus "created" at San Giovanni Rotundo by St Pio is as astonishing and breathtaking as the Basillica at Montreal "created" by St Brother Andre.I pray all readers will seek out with their own eyes and heart such happy clappy.

My husband and I watched this movie last night. It is well acted and quite riveting but...

On 2 occasions he told persons who wanted to confess, that they did not need to admit their sins, (he already knew them) and absolved them without their confessing.

I do not know if that really happened, probably didn't, but I heard as far as the aforementioned ability he was really able to do that.2 examples:-once he told a confessing young girl she forgot to confess working on Sunday (actually watering flowers!)-he told a dying man's wife he did not really repent but feigned his contrition (meaning he could actually read inside his mind/soul) and the man would surely be damned

Quote

Also did Padre Pio really say that Karol Wojtyla would become pope and that he would be a good pope? That was the Aha! moment for me.

As far as I know, he did really meet young Wojtyla, but the prophecy bit is just urban legend, as dozens of others arisen through the decades due to his immense popularity

Quote

Also on 2 occasions he offered Holy Mass facing the people and even distracted during the consecration by a priest looking at his watch.

To me it was using Padre Pio as a prop for newchurch.

It may be, but it could also be that one scene was a screenwriting choice, or just a result of the consultants for the movie being NOist oblivious to such a detail and possibly very positive about JPII. In that sense undoubtedly yes, it's a movie intended to PR for the (Counter)Church.

My husband and I watched this movie last night. It is well acted and quite riveting but...

On 2 occasions he told persons who wanted to confess, that they did not need to admit their sins, (he already knew them) and absolved them without their confessing.

I do not know if that really happened, probably didn't, but I heard as far as the aforementioned ability he was really able to do that.2 examples:-once he told a confessing young girl she forgot to confess working on Sunday (actually watering flowers!)-he told a dying man's wife he did not really repent but feigned his contrition (meaning he could actually read inside his mind/soul) and the man would surely be damned

Quote

Also did Padre Pio really say that Karol Wojtyla would become pope and that he would be a good pope? That was the Aha! moment for me.

As far as I know, he did really meet young Wojtyla, but the prophecy bit is just urban legend, as dozens of others arisen through the decades due to his immense popularity

Quote

Also on 2 occasions he offered Holy Mass facing the people and even distracted during the consecration by a priest looking at his watch.

To me it was using Padre Pio as a prop for newchurch.

It may be, but it could also be that one scene was a screenwriting choice, or just a result of the consultants for the movie being NOist oblivious to such a detail and possibly very positive about JPII. In that sense undoubtedly yes, it's a movie intended to PR for the (Counter)Church.

Cheers.

This seems to be a good response by Desmond IMHO.

I can offer my experience of meeting the director in person, Carlo Carlei, and listening to his description of the filming was the experience of a lifetime for me. He described situations they encountered during filming that could not be explained by any natural means. There were a number of conversions on the movie set because of these events. He said he was not a particularly religious man before this filming but the process he went through was a life changing experience for him.

The life and legacy of Padre Pio has been handled in such a way so as to promote Newchurch, to be sure. Most of the books written about him are quite tainted by this agenda. And now, we are losing the people who knew him in person as they die off, and only their descriptions passed on by word of mouth endure. Publications that have been true to the entire person of this great stigmatist have been suppressed and denounced so as to not receive the credit they deserve.

He celebrated Mass ad orientem his whole life, with the exception of ONE DAY, when because of obedience, he was required to face the people. He reluctantly did obey, and curiously, the photographs taken of that one Mass are the only ones you will find in most books! -- Even though there were hundreds of photos of him facing the tabernacle over the years, those shots just are not made public.

As for confessions, he was well-known for having the gift of being able to see the souls of penitents, and many times he refused to give absolution to those who neglected to confess one or more serious sins, whether they had forgotten them or even if they had tried to hide them. Fortunately for the penitents, they usually agreed to hear his description of their omitted sins and then gave their assent to contrition for them. This kind of thing is not too different from the scene in the movie where he hears his own father's confession at his death. In my opinion, that is one of the most powerful scenes in the movie, and it's one that other films can't come close to touching. Try to remember that just because something is shown in a movie doesn't mean it literally happened exactly that way in real life. There is a degree of poetic license in film making and this one is no different.

There is another scene that is very funny to me. When the boy Francesco is having dinner with his family and he announces his desire to become a Friar, his mother is supportive but his father resists, saying it would cost too much money. Then his mother suggests that his father could sell the cow. Every time I watch his reaction, I burst out with uncontrollable laughter: "La vaca -- NO!!!" If that was not in Italian, it just would not be so funny. There is something about the real language and the real Italian actors and the whole situation that makes it work. It's unstoppably hilarious. There is another funny scene in the orchard, when Padre Pio is leading a group through to pray for the bugs and vermin on the trees to die, one man makes a snide comment, and Padre Pio KICKS him in the rear. That is SO MUCH just like something he would really do!

Every time I see this movie, I laugh, I cry and I am amazed. This is a great film. I can easily imagine the real Padre Pio in all the stories I have heard about him as I watch the scenes progress. It makes a lot of sense (even if it isn't entirely and absolutely perfect).

If you want to become familiar with the style of Carlo Carlei, you can see a number of his other movies, as he has a long list of films he has directed. The ones that preceded Miracle Man were very secular and somewhat vulgar, but his cinematography and creativity is there just the same.

During the one-time showing of this movie in a Hollywood theater (as I recall it was in early 2001), the projector would not start at first. Showing was delayed for about an hour, all told. During that time, Mr. Carlei appeared in person and gave a moving speech to educate the half-filled theater. About a quarter of the audience were nuns with full habit, and everyone was there because they had received advance notice of this one-time showing. He said that these two projectors are very reliable and fairly new, with an excellent maintenance record and no prior malfunctions. He said the manufacturer's own technicians are on hand checking all the components, and every part of each machine is in working order and all systems check out by testing, however, neither one has been able to start, and no one knows why. This is much like what happened on the movie set, he explained, that sometimes they had to call off shooting for a whole day, which is no small decision, since there are costumes and makeup and preparations that all have to be in place for a shoot. But when the cameras would not work, there could be no shooting. Then the next day they would try the cameras and they worked fine, as if nothing had ever been amiss.

So the same thing happened to us. As he stood there explaining how other-worldly the filming experience was, almost as if he was getting to be too convincing, suddenly the projectors started working.

This was in Hollywood, where lots of very strange people line up to see very depraved movies. Since our time in the theater had put the venue behind schedule, the next audience who had come and gathered in the large plaza area in front of the theater to see some other movie had become upset with the delay, and therefore, as we exited after the movie was over, we had to run the gauntlet of their ire. The hurled insults at us and some even spat at us as we walked by. They were blaming us for their inconvenience, as though the projector problem had been our fault.

Whenever someone contends that the delay due to projector malfunction could have been a mere stunt to promote the movie, I assure them that this renown director would never have put his friends and the audience through the terrifying experience of facing a virtual mob outside upon leaving, and therefore he would not have had a hand in making the delay any more than it absolutely had to be, beyond anyone's control.

This was an Italian movie made for TV (not for theater release), and so its not getting a wide showing in the USA is understandable. But it never got any release as a TV movie here, either. Perhaps the reason is that the English version is rather compromised in sound quality and that's the version that would have been shown here on TV: maybe it failed to meet broadcast standards. But the original Italian version with English subtitles is quite good, provided you can read pretty fast.

As Desmond aptly contends, above, the writers and the director were not Traditional Catholics, and so there are nuances in the film that might rub us the wrong way, but in all fairness, we should be able to look past those faults and let the overall artistry of the cinematography make up for what is lacking in doctrinal clarity. As I said before, it's hard to imagine this movie being much more true to the life of this holy man, all told, that is, given the limits of moviemaking in today's world. This movie is an enormous accomplishment, and I have no doubt that the devil did EVERYTHING he could to keep it from seeing the light of day. It was all shot in the beautiful Pietrelcina region, and the film does great justice to the natural beauty of the place.

My husband and I watched this movie last night. It is well acted and quite riveting but...

On 2 occasions he told persons who wanted to confess, that they did not need to admit their sins, (he already knew them) and absolved them without their confessing.

Also did Padre Pio really say that Karol Wojtyla would become pope and that he would be a good pope? That was the Aha! moment for me.

Also on 2 occasions he offered Holy Mass facing the people and even distracted during the consecration by a priest looking at his watch.

To me it was using Padre Pio as a prop for newchurch.

The 3hrs+ version is here: though I won't be sitting through it.

I agree and much more: MY wife saw me watching it on Youtube and told me not to waste my time, that it was Novus Ordo'ish. I watched anyway, and had to fast forward quite a few scenes and never saw the ending. Too syrupy and Novus Ordo'ish. The person they depicted there was not Padre Pio. A book about Padre Pio that my wife recommends (she's read quite a few) that I just started to read is is Padre Pio by Rev. John A. Schug, Capuchin. So far so good.

Logged

The Vatican II church - Assisting Souls to Hell Since 1962

For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect. Mat 24:24

There was a man who had suffered an industrial accident, when acid had splashed on his face, causing severe disfigurement. He lost most of his nose, and his ears were half melted. He had severe scarring all over his face and was no longer recognizable as the man he had been.

He went to Padre Pio, and complained that he dreaded getting up in the morning, that looking into the mirror was getting to be more than he could bear. Please, Padre, isn't there something you can do for me?!

Padre Pio approached the man and slapped him firmly on the right side of his face, saying "All right, then, take THAT!" -and instantly the right side of his face was restored to health, with no hint of ever having been scarred. The man was very grateful and went away with enthusiasm.

About a week later, the man returned, and hesitantly bemoaned how everywhere he went, people would tease him and laugh at him, calling him names and snickering at his silly appearance, so much so that he had taken to hiding his left side from view in hopes no one would notice the scars he still had on that side. Please don't misunderstand, Padre, I am very appreciative of your help on this my right side, but isn't there anything you can do for the left side?

"So you liked that eh? All right, then take THIS!" -and slapping him firmly on the left side this time, again, the entire left side was healed, and now his whole face had no remaining injury.

Being able to read souls was undoubtedly a charism of Padre Pio. That gift did not negate the necessity of the penitent to declare his sins to the priest. There are of course exceptions where a person is close to death and mentally or verbally impaired. In the case of his father at least he had to confirm verbally that he had committed those sins related to him by his son.

But there was no possibility that Padre Pio would have absolved someone before they confessed their sin/s. If fact he always insisted on having all the sins declared and refused absolution for other admitted sins. This is Catholic teaching and Padre Pio was an orthodox priest. Was there no consultant who could explain this to Carlo Carlei?

Though I do not doubt that he was able to prophesy Karol Wojtyla’s papacy, his ability to read souls would have told him that he would not make a good pope, and to say so seems a deception. Can somebody give me a reference to show that I am wrong on that score?

Quote

Also on 2 occasions he offered Holy Mass facing the people and even distracted during the consecration by a priest looking at his watch.

Not only that, but they even had him waving his hands to the congregation, during the Mass, to show that he was healed. My understanding is that he was healed in death.

Quote

Try to remember that just because something is shown in a movie doesn't mean it literally happened exactly that way in real life. There is a degree of poetic license in film making and this one is no different.

Of course! But poetic license is one thing. Falsehood is something else.

Quote

There is another scene that is very funny to me. When the boy Francesco is having dinner with his family and he announces his desire to become a Friar, his mother is supportive but his father resists, saying it would cost too much money. Then his mother suggests that his father could sell the cow. Every time I watch his reaction, I burst out with uncontrollable laughter: "La vaca -- NO!!!" If that was not in Italian, it just would not be so funny. There is something about the real language and the real Italian actors and the whole situation that makes it work. It's unstoppably hilarious. There is another funny scene in the orchard, when Padre Pio is leading a group through to pray for the bugs and vermin on the trees to die, one man makes a snide comment, and Padre Pio KICKS him in the rear. That is SO MUCH just like something he would really do!

It could be that you are a modern day American that you find this funny. My husband is Italian and that scene brought tears to his eyes.

Though the second scene is funny and very realistic and typical for Padre Pio.

BTW, in order to become a friar, you do not need to have money, or even an education, so that part is not realistic. Also receiving the habit is not to become a priest, as the movie infers. There is no distinction made between the two roles. Of course most people (even Catholics) have no idea the difference, and that ignorance is propounded here.

What was uncharacteristic of him was his (the actor’s I mean) touching of women. He kept his hands off women. Though he did kick some who came after him for bits of his garments and handkerchiefs.

Quote

… let the overall artistry of the cinematography make up for what is lacking in doctrinal clarity. As I said before, it's hard to imagine this movie being much more true to the life of this holy man, all told, that is, given the limits of moviemaking in today's world. This movie is an enormous accomplishment, and I have no doubt that the devil did EVERYTHING he could to keep it from seeing the light of day. It was all shot in the beautiful Pietrelcina region, and the film does great justice to the natural beauty of the place.

The bolded sentence is hardly a Catholic attitude. Yes the film gets top marks for many qualities, but it is no so true to Padre Pio's nature and faith, or for doctrinal clarity.

Stir up within Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the Spirit with which blessed Josaphat, Thy Martyr and Bishop, was filled, when he laid down his life for his sheep: so that, through his intercession, we too may be moved and strengthen by the same Spir

CathInfo.com - A message board with Catholic news and information for traditional Catholics living in the modern world.Have questions about our discussion forum? E-mail us: news at cathinfo.com

The posts on CathInfo are the words and opinions of the individual members who posted them, and do not reflect the views of CathInfo or its owner. CathInfo is not liable for the postings of any of its members.

CathInfo is the de-facto discussion headquarters for the SSPX Resistance, which it officially supports.
Traditional Catholics worldwide have made us the #1 forum for SSPX Resistance news and discussion in the English-speaking world.

Please pray for Bishop Richard Williamson, a noble prelate and hand-picked successor of Archbishop Lefebvre whose Catholic wisdom and zeal for the truth have inspired many Traditional Catholics.
On October 23, 2012, the good Bishop was cast out of the SSPX, where he had labored tirelessly for 36 years.
His continued membership in the neo-SSPX would have made a premature union with Rome more difficult.
He is committed to defending Catholic Tradition in all its purity in the SSPX Resistance, as the true successor of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, continuing the fight the SSPX once fought."I have loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore I die in exile." - Pope Gregory VII